Research Interests

Our research interests are in two broad areas: the synthesis of new catalysts for cleaner and more efficient polymer synthesis and the study of new polymers and materials for applications in medicine and optoelectronics. Students and Postdocs working in my group will gain experience at the interface of organic, inorganic and polymer chemistry as well as through collaborations in medicinal biology, engineering and physics.
For a comprehensive list of publications, please click on this link.

 
Polymers and Catalysis  
 


Since Alexander Parkes unveiled the first synthetic polymer, Parkesine, at the Great International Exhibition of 1864 (incidentally, held very close to Imperial College London), polymers have revolutionised twentieth century life. Their rapid and cost effective manufacture and processing has ensured their use in almost every aspect of daily life ranging from the fabrics we wear, to the building materials and furniture we construct and decorate our homes with, not to mention their dominance in packaging.

However, future generations of synthetic polymers will supersede those currently used and will be used to advance the fields of nanotechnology, electronics, molecular biology and medicine. These twenty-first century materials will display the traditional properties such as flexibility, light-weight and low cost, large surface manufacture but will also exhibit specialist features such as electrical conductivity,(bio)degradability, bio-compatibility and will have the option of being nanostructured materials. There is also an urgent need to develop new chemistries to activate and use renewable resources to efficiently produce fuels and materials.

We have been investigating the application of either biomass (plant derived resources, such as carbohydrates) or carbon dioxide as raw materials from which to prepare new molecules, polymers and materials. Research areas and interests currently under investigation in the group are described in more detail in each of the links on this page.